State refuses to reinstate license of social worker who had sex with client

Iowa's licensing boards are overseen by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. (Photo by Getty Images)

The Iowa Board of Social Work has refused to reinstate the license of an Iowa woman who had sex with a client in 2014.

Board records indicate that in 2010, the state issued a social worker’s license to Lisa Bailey of northern Iowa. In 2012, while employed by the Mental Health Center of North Iowa, Bailey was convicted of drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and causing personal property damage. Bailey allegedly told a supervisor she had been “black out drunk” at the time.

Later, the trial judge reportedly informed Bailey’s supervisor that a witness was alleged to have seen Bailey crash her car into another vehicle, walk away and then “stumble” her way into a convenience store where she purchased beer. Bailey was subsequently fired from the center, according to board records.

In April 2013, Bailey was hired as a full-time outpatient counselor for Prairie Ridge Addiction Services. That same year, the board denied her application to practice master’s level social work independently, citing concerns with her ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients and colleagues. A supervisor at the Mental Health Center had alleged Bailey had been seeing a client on a regular basis during the evening hours when the center was closed.

In 2014, the board charged Bailey with engaging in a dual relationship with a current client, engaging in a sexual relationship with a current client, practicing while experiencing a mental or physical impairment, and engaging in unethical conduct.

Bailey later acknowledged having a sexual relationship with one of her clients, according to the board. The relationship lasted for a few months before the client ended it. In a 16-day period after the relationship ended, Bailey allegedly telephoned the client 167 times and sent the client 54 text messages.

As part of a settlement with the board in November 2014, Bailey admitted to the allegations, acknowledged substance abuse issues, and agreed to voluntarily surrender her social work license.

Bailey applied for reinstatement last year and included in her request a psychological evaluation. The examiner who conducted the evaluation concluded they could not advocate for the reinstatement of Bailey’s license, the board alleges.

The board recently voted to deny Bailey’s application, and ordered that before she reapplies for reinstatement she must complete a year of random substance abuse testing, a year of therapy, and instructional training on professional boundaries.

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